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Oxytocin and cortisol release during suckling, hand-milking and machine milking in camels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2021

Marwa Brahmi ,
Moufida Atigui ,
Ihmen Hammadi ,
Jacques Portanguen ,
Mohamed Hammadi  and
Pierre-Guy Marnet
Marwa Brahmi
Affiliation:
IRA, Medenine, Tunisia ISA Chott Mériem, Sousse, Tunisia
Moufida Atigui
Affiliation:
ESA, Mateur, Tunisia
Ihmen Hammadi
Affiliation:
IRA, Medenine, Tunisia University of Gabès, Gabès, Tunisia
Jacques Portanguen
Affiliation:
INRAe, UMR1348, Rennes, France
Mohamed Hammadi
Affiliation:
IRA, Medenine, Tunisia Ecole Doctorale SIS, University of Gabès, Gabès, Tunisia
Pierre-Guy Marnet*
Affiliation:
Institut Agro-Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, France
*
Author for correspondence: Pierre-Guy Marnet, Email: marnet@agrocampus-ouest.fr
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Abstract

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that oxytocin (OT) could be released during suckling and during milking with and without the presence of a calf and that this release could be regulated by maternal behaviour. Plasma concentration patterns of OT and cortisol (CORT) were measured in six Tunisian dromedary camels during 2 suckling episodes, 2 manual milking episodes with calves beside the mother and 2 machine milking episodes without calves present. Various patterns of OT release were observed between each camel including specific two peak release patterns. Higher plasma OT concentrations were found during the suckling and hand-milking episodes with simultaneous suckling of calves, than during the machine milking episodes without calves. Exclusive mechanical milking episodes also evoked significant mean OT release, although greatly reduced compared to suckling and hand milking. The low basal levels and classical CORT release patterns suggested non-stressful management practices were used and there were very limited differences in udder stimulation between managements. The OT release induced by exclusive suckling and suckling together with hand-milking gives a reference point for what a good milk ejection stimulation is in camels. The important and specific reduction of OT release during machine milking without the calf present could be a physiological consequence of the maternal behaviour (selectivity for the own young) and to a lesser extent explained by a lower stimulation by machine milking.

Keywords

CamelscortisolmilkingOxytocinsuckling
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 88 , Issue 3 , August 2021 , pp. 278 - 285
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

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